"I didn't like it," Rivers said. "I didn't like that part of it. But I don't think he meant it in the way I think it's being [discussed]. I just think he was upset at the technical. I don't think the technical was warranted either, to be honest. But that's not a gender issue. That's just an issue that you disagree with the tech. It probably should have been left that way. But knowing Chris, I think that's what he meant more. I don't think he meant that it was a gender issue at all."

San Antonio Spurs assistant coach Becky Hammon backed Paul on Twitter on Friday, writing that she doesn't think his comment "had anything to do with the ref's gender."

On Friday, Lee Seeham, general counsel for the National Basketball Referees Association, addressed Paul's comments.

According to Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports, Seeham said Holtkamp's calls were "justified" and that "she belongs."